Over their three wasted years in Opposition, Labor has already racked up more than $560 million in unfunded spending promises.
These promises, which are detailed below, will need to be fully accounted for by Bec White in her alternative Budget/economic directions statement/Budget reply which she delivers on Tuesday.
Over the past three years Labor has made numerous reckless, reactive and often opportunistic pledges, which as can be seen total more than double the projected $200 million surplus across the same period.
This means, that unless Ms White is able to identify significant cuts to the Budget on Tuesday, if elected she and Labor would drive the Budget deep back into deficit.
The pressure is now firmly on Ms White and Mr Bacon to produce a credible alternative Budget which accounts for, and funds, all of their promises.
Initiative | Cost ($m) |
Savings | |
Abolish office of Co-ordinator General[i] | -10.200 |
Abolish Infrastructure Tasmania[ii] | -3.200 |
Not relocating MRT to Burnie[iii] | -1.000 |
SUB-TOTAL | -14.400 |
| |
Expenditure | |
Alternative fuel transport initiative[iv] | 20.000 |
Energy Storage Technologies[v] | 20.000 |
Passenger Transport (over 10 years)[vi] | 58.000 |
A statutory fuel prices oversight officer[vii] | 0.500 |
Child and Family centres (2 in first term)[viii] | 7.000 |
Neighbourhood Houses funding increase[ix] | 4.620 |
One off capital investment in Neighbourhood Houses[x] | 2.000 |
160 additional teachers [xi] | 64.000 |
Restore Pathway Planners[xi] | 14.000 |
Industry Development Plans[xii] | ? |
Tas Education Partnerships[xiii] | ? |
Active kids[xiv] | 0.150 |
Extra nurses[xv] | 120.000 |
Forestry Tasmania subsidy | 100.000 |
Fund CMT's operating cost[xvi] | 40.000 |
Gender audits for all economic policies[xvii] | ? |
Review of the Public service[xviii] | ? |
Increasing the size of Parliament[xix] | 12.000 |
Cradle Mountain[xx] | 15.000 |
Overland Track[xxi] | 8.000 |
Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund[xxii] | 50.000 |
Taste Stall | 0.015 |
TICT funding[xxiii] | 41.000 |
SUB-TOTAL | 576.285 |
TOTAL | 561.885 |
*All costings over four years
[i] Green, Bryan – Media Release “High priced jobs for the boys returning nothing for Tasmania”, October 26, 2016.
[ii] Green, Bryan – as above
[iii] Green, Bryan – Media Release “Liberal upheaval holding back Tasmania’s mining industry”, 22 July 2016
[iv] Target 500, policy document, available - http://taslabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Target-500-Labors-Renewable-Energy-Development-Target.pdf
[v] Target 500 - as above
[vi] All Aboard – policy document, available - http://taslabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/All-Aboard-Labors-Long-Term-Passenger-Transport-Strategy.pdf
[vii] Green, Bryan – Reply to Premier’s Address, March 8 2017
[viii] “Labor will support Tasmanian children” - http://taslabor.com/labor-will-support-tasmanian-children/
[ix] “Investing in local communities” - http://taslabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Investing-in-Local-Communities-.pdf
[x] As above
[xi] Protecting pathway planners in policy document “The Education State”, available - http://taslabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Education-State-Labors-Long-Term-Strategy-to-Make-Tasmania-the-Education-State.pdf
[xii] White, Rebecca – Media Release “Labor’s skills and training overhaul means jobs for future Tasmanian generations”, 28 April 2017. Note: Labor’s promise to provide funds for apprentices and trainees has not been included on the basis it has been superseded by our superior policy in this year’s budget.
[xiii] “The Education State”, available - http://taslabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Education-State-Labors-Long-Term-Strategy-to-Make-Tasmania-the-Education-State.pdf
[xv] White, Rebecca, Parliamentary debate, June 2 2015 “We need to see an increase of at least five nurses per ward”, cost estimated.
[xvi] Estimated cost. Source: “Government pays to keep mine shut”, The Advocate, 20th November 2015 “Mr Green said he would have looked to have the mine [Mt Lyell] reopen and make an arrangement with the company for the government to underwrite it until copper prices improve.”
[xvii] Green, Bryan – Reply to Premier’s Address, March 8 2017
[xviii] Green, Bryan – Budget Reply, May 31 2016
[xix] “Expansion of Lower House suggested”, The Examiner,
[xx]Media Release “Labor to invest in NW tourism infrastructure and job creation” 29 May 2016
[xxi] As above
[xxii] Bacon, Scott, Media Release “Labor to invest in regional tourism infrastructure” 31 May 2016
[xxiii] Media Release “Labor and Tourism Industry Council working together for Tasmania’s future”, 22 May 2017
More Media Releases from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier